Thank you for your interest in attending our awesome school. We are really proud of what we do here and what makes our school special.
Each school has a slightly different enrolment process. Hopefully the questions and answers below help demystify what we do at RSS.
If there is any question not asked/answered, please get in touch directly for the answer and then we can also add it in here for future parents and whānau.
Q. I live in zone and my child is about to turn 5, what do I do?
Please fill out the pre-enrolment form. This will let us know some basic details so that we can add your child to our pre-enrol list. You will need to prove that you live inside the school zone (see below for the types of documents we need to see). Usually, in the term before your child turns 5, the teacher overseeing the transition to school process will be in touch to organise visits, share the formal enrolment form with you and other important starting school information. You can read more information about this process here.
Q. I live out of zone and my child is about to turn 5, what do I do?
Please fill out the pre-enrolment form. This will let us know some basic details so that we can add your child to our pre-enrol list for an out of zone ballot. We schedule 4 ballots throughout the year for out of zone enrolments, the dates of which you can find here. Enrolment is not guaranteed, it depends if there is any space, at what year level and then if your child’s name gets pulled out of the hat.
If you are offered a place of enrolment and you accept it, in the term before your child starts, the teacher overseeing the transition to school process will be in touch to organise visits, share the formal enrolment form with you and other important starting school information. You can read more information about this process here.
Q. My child has already started school but we have moved into zone and want them to come to RSS, what do I do?
Please fill out the pre-enrolment form. This will let us know some basic details so that we can get the process underway. Come into the school office or email your documents (listed below) and once your right to enrol at RSS is confirmed, we will be in touch with everything you need to know about starting school.
Q. My child has already started school, we live out of zone but want them to come to RSS, what do I do?
Refer to the answer above for out of zone 5 year olds.
Q. What documents does the school need as part of the enrolment process?
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- A copy of the eligibility document for your child. This can be either:
- NZ birth certificate or NZ passport (if NZ citizen)
- Australian passport (if Australian citizen) or
- NZ residency permit or NZ student visa/permit and Parental work permit (if the child is not a NZ citizen).
- Proof of your address (if in zone e.g., utilities bill, rental/sales agreement).
- Immunisation certificate
- A copy of any Court Order Documents (if applicable)
- A copy of the eligibility document for your child. This can be either:
Q. I’m looking at different schools in Palmerston North for my child, can I come for a visit?
Yes absolutely! This will enable us to share what drives learning at our school and provide the opportunity for you to ask us your burning questions. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office to make an appointment with one of the leadership team to show you around.
Q. Does RSS have and immersion/bi-lingual unit?
Yes we have a Level 3 immersion (31-50% taught in Māori) learning area called Poutokomanawa which you can read all about here.
Q. What learning pathways do you have for children entering RSS as a new entrant?
We have two learning pathways which you can choose when enrolling as a new entrant at RSS. During the enrolment process we will ask you to confirm which pathway you wish to take:
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- Waka Huia Pathway – Waka Huia are our traditional English medium new entrant classroom spaces. The Waka Huia whānau starts with 2 teachers and grows throughout the year as new children and teachers start school.
- Poutokomanawa Pathway – Poutokomanawa is our Māori immersion classroom space operating at Level 3 (31-50% taught in Māori). The Poutokomanawa whānau consists of up to 75 children ranging from Year 0-6 with four main kaiako.
Q. Can my child move into Poutokomanawa later on in their years at RSS, if I don’t want them to start their time at school there?
Yes, if the classes in Poutokomanawa are not already full, we will do everything we can to get them in there. Towards the end of each year you will get the opportunity to express an interest in being in Poutokomanawa for the following year.
Q. Does RSS have a uniform?
No we don’t, apart from an RSS school hat which needs to be worn when outside during Term 1 and 4. Students can wear any bucket hat but you can also purchase an RSS hat from the school office for $15.
Q. Does RSS have a Religious Instruction?
No.
Q. How does the school communicate with parents and whānau?
We use 3 apps to support home school communication and adminstration.
Hero – School wide notices, events calendar, student absences, permission slips etc are part of the Hero app. HERO is also your go to app for reporting progress on learning, class placements and up to date finance information. Need to connect to HERO? Find out how here.
Seesaw – Day to day learning posts and reminders are shared and communicated through the Seesaw Family app. Your child’s teacher will provide you with a QR Code login to your child’s Seesaw account.
myKindo – This is our app for all school finances, lunch orders and sports/activity sign-up. Find out more here.
Q. Where do I get information regarding stationery requirements?
Please head to Warehouse Stationery in order to firstly find our school and then your child’s class/year level. The list generated indicates what is required to fully participate in learning activities throughout the year. It is over to you if you purchase the required items through Warehouse Stationery or another supplier. Buying through Warehouse Stationery does give the school bonus points which can be redeemed at a later date saving the school some valuable dollars!
Q. What fees need to be paid to the school?
Activity Fee – We ask parents and whānau to contribute $10 per child per term as an Activity Fee. Rather than asking for small amounts of money for individual events, special activities, visiting performers or trips, the $10 pays for these additional expenses in a one-off termly fee. Teachers budget across the year to spend this money in different ways and make sure that every last cent is used by the end of the year! Activity fees are payable through myKindo.
School Donation – This is a voluntary payment to support the school and help boost the school’s finances and bridge the gap between the funding we receive from the Government and what we want to achieve as a school. This enables us to provide additional opportunities and resources for your child and the school. Donations are set at $150 per student or $200 for a family. Donations are payable through myKindo.
Sports Fees – If your child plays sport for a RSS team this will typically involve paying a registration fee. We pay this fee on your behalf to the organising sporting body. These sports will usually be summer and winter hockey, netball, summer soccer and basketball. Sports fees are payable through myKindo when registering your child for a sport.
Q. What forms need to be filled in?
Pre-Enrolment – To express your interest in your child attending RSS you first need to fill in the pre-enrolment form.
Full Enrolment – When your eligibility to enrol is confirmed, we will send you a link to the full online enrolment form integrated into Hero.
Digital Citizenship Agreement – You will also need to complete the Digital Citizenship Agreement form.
Medication – If your child takes regular medication e.g. asthma, or short course medicine e.g. antibiotics, please come into the office and fill out medicine authority form.
If there is any question not asked/answered, please get in touch directly for the answer and then we can also add it in here for future parents and whānau.
Ngā mihi, RSS staff.